Electric Car VED (Road Tax) Calculator 2025/26+
From 1 April 2025, zero-emission electric vehicles must pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time. New EVs registered on or after 1 April 2025 pay a first-year rate of £10, then £195/year standard rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do electric cars pay road tax from 2025?
Yes. Zero-emission electric vehicles must pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) from 1 April 2025. New EVs pay £10 in year 1, then £195/year standard rate. EVs registered before 1 April 2025 pay the standard rate from their first renewal after that date.
What is the Expensive Car Supplement for EVs?
EVs with a list price over £40,000 pay the Expensive Car Supplement of £620/year on top of the standard £195 rate — total £815/year — for years 2 through 6. This applies to many popular EVs like Tesla Model 3 Performance, Audi e-tron, and BMW iX.
Why is the VED first-year rate for new EVs only £10?
The £10 first-year rate for zero-emission vehicles is deliberately low to reflect their zero tailpipe emissions. It signals an environmental incentive while still bringing EVs into the VED system. Petrol/diesel first-year rates can be hundreds of pounds based on CO2 emissions.
What VED did EVs pay before April 2025?
Zero-emission cars registered before 1 April 2025 paid £0 VED. This exemption was introduced to encourage EV adoption. From April 2025, the exemption ended — though existing EVs were not retroactively charged.
Does VED apply to electric motorcycles?
Electric motorcycles (zero-emission bikes) pay £0 VED in 2025/26. The VED reform applied specifically to zero-emission cars (and vans from April 2025 with a transitional flat rate).
How is VED calculated for hybrid cars?
Hybrid cars are not zero-emission, so they pay CO2-based VED rates like petrol/diesel cars. Self-charging hybrids and mild hybrids with CO2 emissions pay standard first-year rates. The exemptions only applied to 100% zero-emission BEVs.
When must I renew my electric car VED?
VED must be renewed annually (or monthly by direct debit). You can renew online at gov.uk/renew-vehicle-tax. DVLA sends renewal reminders. Untaxed vehicles on public roads face automatic detection (ANPR cameras) and fines.
Is the Expensive Car Supplement avoidable?
The £40,000 threshold is based on the original list price, not the price paid. Discounts, used car purchases, or choosing a model priced below £40,000 avoids the supplement. Once applied, it runs for years 2–6 regardless of subsequent sale.
What is the VED rate for an electric van?
Zero-emission vans pay a transitional flat rate in 2025/26 (reduced from standard van rate). From April 2026, zero-emission vans pay the same standard rate as petrol/diesel vans. Check gov.uk for current van VED rates.
How does VED affect the total cost of EV ownership?
Adding £195–£815/year in VED reduces the cost advantage of EVs over ICE vehicles. However, EVs still typically save £1,000–£3,000/year in fuel and lower maintenance costs, so VED is a modest additional cost in context.
Does the UK government plan to increase EV VED further?
The government has indicated EV VED rates will increase gradually in line with their net zero revenue policy. Future rates may converge more closely with ICE vehicles as EV adoption increases and fuel duty revenues decline.
What is SORN for electric vehicles?
A Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN) applies equally to electric vehicles. If your EV is taken off the road (garaged, not used on public roads), you can SORN it and pay no VED. SORN requires the vehicle is kept on private land.